Long in coming due to debates over rights issues, "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights" never really justifies the reason for its existence, but it's just another in a fairly long line of movies in recent years that passes the time adequately. One will find a couple of decent moments, a laugh or two (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not), some brief thrills and a decent performance or two.

The sequel focuses on Katey (Romola Garai), who finds herself on the way to Cuba along with her mother, Jeannie (Sela Ward), and sister, Susie (Mika Boorem), because it would mean a promotion for Dad (John Slattery). Katey catches the eye of the wealthy James Phelps (Jonathan Jackson), but her heart rests with local busboy Javier (Diego Luna, from "Y Tu Mama Tambien"). Soon enough, she's taking dance lessons from Javier (and, in a brief cameo, original star Patrick Swaze) in order to try and get into the local dance contest.

So begins a series of sequences where the two fall for one another, despite the dismay of her parents and the local popular girls. It's also no surprise that she comes to the dance lessons with routines strictly planned out, while he tries to enforce the idea of trying to learn your own rhythm and move to your own music - all that jazz, in other words. The Cuban Revolution is also touched upon, although very briefly.

Stars Ramola Garai and Diego Luna make an appealing enough couple, yet neither really are strong enough here to carry the movie. Garai isn't terribly convincing and Luna never quite clicks with her. Still, once the two hit the dance floor, their pairing gets a sudden injection of chemistry. Speaking of the dancing, it's actually quite well-choreographed and probably the movie's biggest selling point.

While there are aspects of "Havana Nights" to appreciate (and it's up for debate whether this is better than the original - not exactly a debate I'm terribly interested in), there's not a surprise to be found or a plot point most won't see coming from a mile away.